Austrian composer Cesar Bresgen (1913–1988) was born in Florence, Italy and was raised in Zell am See, Munich, Prague, and Salzburg. He studied at the Musikhochschule in Munich. From 1939–84 (with a break during the war years) he was Professor of Composition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. His output as composer was very large and wide ranging in purpose. Like his good friend Carl Orff, he composed a large amount of pedagogical music. He also wrote many works in all forms (from orchestral to solo) for professional musicians. Bresgen also authored several books on improvisation and other topics. In addition to his musical pursuits he was active in painting (both his parents were artists), the graphic arts, and mycology (the study of fungi/mushrooms).